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The 5 Best Snow Day Recipes

March weather in Massachusetts never ceases to amaze me. A 70 degree day here, a blizzard there, and somehow we’re all supposed to just go on with our lives and pretend we like living here (news flash: we don’t). My house and my soul are getting crushed by snow, and possibly large tree limbs and flying debris, while I sit inside and try to entertain two kids all day. Help me.

You may be waiting for the part where you read through my rant and then are rewarded with a delicious new recipe. Well, my friends, that’s not going to happen today. Due to excessive snow days/numerous weekend birthday parties, I didn’t have time to get a recipe post together. I’m sorry. I have a real job, you know, and kids who like to eat on demand rather than watching me take photos. Instead, I’m posting my TOP 5 SNOW DAY RECIPES to warm your heart and make living in this climate just a little bit more tolerable…or at least tastier. And more calorie-dense.

Here they are, in no particular order…

5. Minestrone Soup

My mom’s Minestrone Soup is perfect in a storm because it’s quick, easy, and uses all pantry staples. This is great for warming your heart when your son tells you that his grandma is nicer than you, and that he’d rather be playing with her.

4. Instant Pot Chicken with Mushrooms, Leeks, and Artichokes

OK, so maybe you waited until last night to make sure you would actually have something to eat during the storm. What’s that? The fridge is empty, except for a few sad looking mushrooms, a wilted leek, and some questionable frozen chicken? Enter the ultimate Instant Pot dump recipe: Instant Pot Chicken with Mushrooms, Leeks, and Artichokes. Various foods from your fridge and pantry are essentially thrown in the IP, garnished with something green, and everyone tells you it’s the best thing they’ve had in a long time. Why do I spend so much time cooking, again?

3. White Bean and Escarole Soup

This recipe is great for when you want to eat a lot of unhealthy chorizo, but you also know it’s a bad idea to have a heart attack during a snowstorm. White Bean and Escarole Soup has enough chorizo to make it taste great, but hopefully enough vegetables to balance it out.

2. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese says, “I don’t have the energy to continuously argue with my kids over what to eat, but I’ll feel like I won if I hide a ton of squash in here”. You’ll like it, too, so don’t worry.

1. Beer and Brown Sugar Braised Short Ribs

The chance you’ll have the ingredients on hand to make Beer and Brown Sugar Braised Short Ribs is slim to none, but I had to include this recipe. When you’ve burned off 3000 calories shoveling, what better way to replace them than with a nice, well marbled (read: fatty), slow cooked piece of beef? You can substitute some chuck roast or stew beef in a pinch.

BONUS RECIPE!

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Jalapeno Dip

Are you straight up ready to eat your feelings after spending all day trapped indoors with your kids? Me either, but if I did feel that way, I’d make this Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Dip. Smooth. Creamy. Spicy. Heartburn-inducing, but in a good way–a way that says, “I deserve this, and honestly, I don’t mind because it’s so freaking good.” Too spicy for the kids, which means more for me…I mean, you.

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